National Consultant-Integrating Climate and Environment into Teacher Training(CSESI)

Middle

Application deadline (Midnight IST Time) : 09/09/2026

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

OVERVIEW

CSESI was launched in early 2023 by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) in partnership with Save the Children, UNESCO’s Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Section and UNESCO ‑ IIEP. The initiative is being implemented in 35 countries and seeks to strengthen national capacities to:

• Mainstream climate change adaptation and environmental sustainability into education sector plans, policies and budgets; and

Enhance education ministry capacity for cross‑sectoral coordination on climate- and environment‑related policy and programming.

CSESI promotes a systems approach, supporting scalable models for integrating climate action into education and fostering coordination across policy, planning, curriculum, teacher development, infrastructure and data systems to build resilience among learners and education systems.

UNESCO applies a holistic Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) approach, addressing climate change from environmental, social and economic perspectives and supporting the development of knowledge, values, attitudes and competencies that enable learners to contribute to mitigation, adaptation, resilience and sustainable development. Global reference documents guiding this work include the Greening Curriculum Guidance (UNESCO, 2024) , ESD for Sustainable Development Goals : Learning Objectives (UNESCO, 2017), and curriculum alignment guidance developed by UNESCO ‑ IBE.

Terms of Reference

The main objective of this consultancy is to support the integration of climate change, environmental sustainability and DRR into teacher training programmes in the Maldives by:

Reviewing existing pre‑service and in‑service teacher training resources;

• Identifying priority climate and environmental topics and learning outcomes aligned with national frameworks and UNESCO guidance;
• Assessing teachers’ and school leaders’ readiness to teach climate/environment/DRR; and
• Updating teacher training materials and developing supplementary teaching aids that promote learner‑centred, inclusive and action‑oriented pedagogies.

The consultant will work closely with the MoE, NIE, teacher training institutions and TRCs , supported by UNESCO and CSESI partners.

This activity will be aligned with curriculum and learning frameworks and focus on equipping teachers with the knowledge, tools and strategies to deliver climate education effectively. Based on global reference documents produced by UNESCO’s ESD Section and IBE, and national resources identified in collaboration with the MoE and NIE, the consultant will undertake the following tasks:

Scope of Work and Key Activities

This activity will be aligned with curriculum and learning frameworks and focus on equipping teachers with the knowledge, tools and strategies to deliver climate education effectively. Based on global reference documents produced by UNESCO’s ESD Section and IBE, and national resources identified in collaboration with the MoE and NIE, the consultant will undertake the following tasks:

Step 1 – Assessment and Mapping of Teacher Training Resources

Support ongoing review of the existing teacher training resources from primary to secondary levels for climate/environment/DRR-related content to identify gaps, opportunities and a set of contextually relevant priority topics and learning outcomes to be incorporated from the Greening Curriculum Guidance.

Step 2 – Teacher Readiness Assessment

Conduct assessment of teachers’ and school leaders’ readiness to teach climate/environment/DRR to identify capacity gaps and entry points for integration of priority topics into teacher education curricular frameworks and programmes. The assessment will be conducted remotely through an online survey and will measure 3 key dimensions: Knowledge (Climate Science and Pedagogy), Attitudes and Practice.

Step 3 – Development and Updating of Teacher Training Materials

In collaboration with NIE, update existing pre-service and in-service teacher training resources and programmes and develop new supplementary teaching aids to build the capacities of teachers to teach the priority topics and learning outcomes, focusing on interactive, inclusive and gender-responsive pedagogies. This will complement the UNESCO-UNU climate literacy framework for teachers pilot initiative, which is to be undertaken in Maldives between 2025-2027.

Step 4 – Consultation, Validation and Finalization

Support UNESCO, the MoE and NIE in organizing consultation and validation workshops with relevant stakeholders to review and validate the updated teacher training materials and teaching aids.

Deliverables

The deliverables for this consultancy shall include:

Profile of the Candidate

The consultant should meet the following requirements:

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• An advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in education, curriculum development, teacher education, pedagogy, Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), environmental education, or a related field. Alternatively, Bachelor’ degree with three years of relevant experience.
• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressive professional experience in the education sector, with demonstrated expertise in curriculum development, teacher training, teaching and learning materials (TLMs), pedagogy, and institutional capacity development.
• Strong knowledge of global standards and best practices in curriculum design, teacher education, and development of TLMs, including the integration of climate change, environmental sustainability and/or Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).

Long Description

• Proven experience in designing, reviewing and revising curricula and teacher training resources, ideally in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) or similar contexts.
• Demonstrated experience in climate change education, Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), and/or DRR integration in education systems.
• Demonstrated experience working in the Maldives, including familiarity with the Ministry of Education (MoE), National Institute of Education (NIE), and teacher training systems.
• Experience in conducting capacity assessments, including survey design, data collection and analysis, and development of actionable recommendations.

COMPETENCIES - Core (C) & Managerial (M)

• Communication (C)
• Accountability (C)
• Innovation (C)
• Knowlegde sharing and continuous improvement (C)
• Planning and organizing (C)
• Results focus (C)
• Teamwork (C)

For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework .

Long Description

• Experience facilitating stakeholder consultations and working collaboratively with government counterparts, teacher training institutions, and development partners.
• Demonstrated experience in integrating learner-centred, inclusive, gender-responsive and action-oriented pedagogies into curriculum and teacher training resources.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, with proficiency in Dhivehi required.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver high-quality outputs within agreed timelines.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Qualified candidates are requested to attach the below documents under the 'Employment History' attachment section:

a Cover Letter (maximum one page) explaining how their qualifications and experience make them suitable for the assignment;

• an updated Curriculum Vitae (CV) including educational qualifications, relevant professional experience, telephone number, email address, and contact details of two (2) professional references;
• a Technical Proposal (maximum five pages) outlining the applicant’s understanding of the assignment, key challenges and proposed approaches, methodology, workplan, relevant experience, and samples/examples of previous relevant work authored by the applicant in the Maldives or a similar context;
• a Financial Proposal in US dollars, inclusive of consultancy fees, travel, all other miscellaneous costs, and mandatory taxes as per the laws of Maldives, indicating the overall lump-sum cost for the assignment and a breakdown of monthly costs; and

a list and samples of relevant work, including at least two examples related to the deliverables and at least one sample authored by the applicant in the Maldives or a similar context.

Interested candidates should submit all required documents in English , following UNESCO application procedures. The consultant profile should include CV(s) detailing academic qualifications, relevant experience, and references with contact details.

Long Description

The consultant will be responsible for arranging their own logistics: office space, administrative and secretarial support, team members, telecommunications, travel arrangement, printing of documentation, etc. The costs of these logistics, including all research-related travel costs, will be included in the lump sum proposal.

The consultant must ensure that sources are properly cited by using the Harvard referencing style, following international academic standards and making sure that no copyrights are violated. Please refer to the UNESCO Style Manual for citation style, terminology and spelling, abbreviations, references, etc.

UNESCO will provide feedback throughout the process, in particular there will be feedback and revisions that are expected to be incorporated for all deliverables. The contractor and UNESCO will hold regular meetings to discuss progress and next steps.

In line with UNESCO’s overall gender mainstreaming strategy, the contractor is expected to integrate a gender perspective in all activities and apply gender analysis and mainstreaming concepts whenever feasible.

The technical assets produced will be the property of UNESCO.

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information, by the above deadline.

To apply, please visit the UNESCO Careers website . No modifications can be made to the application once submitted.

The process may include pre-recorded video interviews and/or written assessments, interviews with a Panel, as well as reference checks. In addition, candidates may be requested to provide additional information which may be pertinent to the position’s qualifications.

Proposals will be determined based on the best value for money approach. The weighted model takes account of two components, the individual consultant’s qualifications and the cost, by allocating a weight of 70% to the qualifications of the candidate, and 30% to the cost of the proposal. An assessment exercise may be used in the evaluation of candidates.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the appointment of personnel shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity.
• UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment.
• lndividuals from minority groups and indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.
• All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality.
• The statutory retirement age at UNESCO is 65 years.
• UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the hiring process.